Relative clauses & Relative pronouns
What is a relative clause? It's a sentence that gives information about someone/something in the main clause.
An architect is a person who designs buildings.
Example of relative clause
An architect is a person
who desings buildings.
main clause
relative clause
independent clause
dependent clause
What is a relative pronoun?
It's a word that introduces a relative clause. = It's a word that introduces a dependent clause and connects it to another clause.
who, that, which, where....
List of relatives
2 types of relative clauses
1. Defining relative clause 2. Non-defining relative clause
DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
It tells us which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means. The sentence doesn't usually make sense if we remove the relative clause.
They giveessential information
Example of defining relative clause
which is parked outside?
Who owns the car
defining relative clause
main clause
We could just say: "Who owns the car?"
but we need more information to know what car we are talking about.
In defining relative clauses...
- We do not use a comma or commas.
That's the doctor who did Karen's operation.
- We can use that instead of who/which etc.
That's the doctor that did Karen's operation.
- We can omit the relative pronoun if it is not the subject.
That's the doctor who I told you. That's the doctor I told you.
- We do not often use whom in this type of sentences.
NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
It adds extra information to the sentence. The extra information is not necessary to define the noun.
They giveextra information
Example of non-defining relative clause
My brother Rob,
who lives in Australia,
is a pilot.
main clause
main clause
non-defining relative clause
If we omit the information between commas we still know what person the speaker means.
We could just say: "My brother Rob is a pilot"
In non-defining relative clauses...
- We USE a comma or commas.
We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended. Abbey Street, where she lives, is famous for its theatre.
The film, which stars Emma Watson, is released on Friday. The film, that stars Emma Watson, is released on Friday.
- We can't omit the relative.
Mr Jones, who is my uncle, is 50 years old. Mr Jones, is my uncle, is 50 years old.
Your turn
Use a relative clause to rewrite each sentence.
example
We saw a film last week. It was awful.
The film that/which we saw last week was awful.
defining
A woman lives next door. She is my friend.
The woman who lives next door is my friend.
Defining
The new stadium will be opened next month. The stadium holds 90,000 people.
The new stadium, which holds 90,000 people, we'll be opened next month.
non-defining
The end
Teacher Nuria
Example:
My grandfather John is 87. He goes swimming everyday.
My grandfather John, who is 87, goes swimming everyday.
non-defining
My brother, who lives in Australia, is a pilot.
My brother who lives in Australia is a pilot.
VS
You have more than one brother. This brother lives in Australia.
You have only 1 brother.
You only have one brother.
Relative clauses & Relative pronouns
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Transcript
Relative clauses & Relative pronouns
What is a relative clause? It's a sentence that gives information about someone/something in the main clause.
An architect is a person who designs buildings.
Example of relative clause
An architect is a person
who desings buildings.
main clause
relative clause
independent clause
dependent clause
What is a relative pronoun?
It's a word that introduces a relative clause. = It's a word that introduces a dependent clause and connects it to another clause.
who, that, which, where....
List of relatives
2 types of relative clauses
1. Defining relative clause 2. Non-defining relative clause
DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
It tells us which person or thing (or what kind of person or thing) the speaker means. The sentence doesn't usually make sense if we remove the relative clause.
They giveessential information
Example of defining relative clause
which is parked outside?
Who owns the car
defining relative clause
main clause
We could just say: "Who owns the car?"
but we need more information to know what car we are talking about.
In defining relative clauses...
- We do not use a comma or commas.
That's the doctor who did Karen's operation.- We can use that instead of who/which etc.
That's the doctor that did Karen's operation.- We can omit the relative pronoun if it is not the subject.
That's the doctor who I told you. That's the doctor I told you.NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
It adds extra information to the sentence. The extra information is not necessary to define the noun.
They giveextra information
Example of non-defining relative clause
My brother Rob,
who lives in Australia,
is a pilot.
main clause
main clause
non-defining relative clause
If we omit the information between commas we still know what person the speaker means.
We could just say: "My brother Rob is a pilot"
In non-defining relative clauses...
- We USE a comma or commas.
We stayed at the Park Hotel, which a friend of ours recommended. Abbey Street, where she lives, is famous for its theatre.- We never use that.
The film, which stars Emma Watson, is released on Friday. The film, that stars Emma Watson, is released on Friday.- We can't omit the relative.
Mr Jones, who is my uncle, is 50 years old. Mr Jones, is my uncle, is 50 years old.Your turn
Use a relative clause to rewrite each sentence.
example
We saw a film last week. It was awful.
The film that/which we saw last week was awful.
defining
A woman lives next door. She is my friend.
The woman who lives next door is my friend.
Defining
The new stadium will be opened next month. The stadium holds 90,000 people.
The new stadium, which holds 90,000 people, we'll be opened next month.
non-defining
The end
Teacher Nuria
Example:
My grandfather John is 87. He goes swimming everyday.
My grandfather John, who is 87, goes swimming everyday.
non-defining
My brother, who lives in Australia, is a pilot.
My brother who lives in Australia is a pilot.
VS
You have more than one brother. This brother lives in Australia.
You have only 1 brother.
You only have one brother.